Coca Cola Championship Matchday Fourteen: Barnsley v Coventry City

After the shambolic display at Sunderland last weekend, Andy Ritchie should but probably wont be changes for the visit of Micky Adams Sky Blues.

With an alarming lack of depth in the squad the under-performing Martin Devaney and Paul Hayes should keep their places.

Probable Line-Up:

Nick Colgan

Bobby Hassell

Paul Reid ©

Antony Kay

Robbie Williams

Martin Devaney

Sam Togwell

Brian Howard

Michael McIndoe

Paul Hayes

Marc Richards

The Reds have an excellent home record against Coventry winning 12 of the 21 matches played and Coventry triumphing just 3 times. The Reds are unbeaten against The Sky Blues in the last 11 meetings at Oakwell stretching back to Boxing Day 1947.

The last Oakwell meeting was back on 25^th September 2001 when the teams drew 1-1 in Division One, in Coventry's first season back in the Nationwide leagues after relegation from the Premiership. Jairo Martinez put Coventry in front after 54 minutes but Bruce Dyer equalised after 79.

The Reds were 19^th after that point whilst Coventry sat 10^th.

Coventry won the return fixture 4-0 however in February 2002 and of course that was the season The Reds were relegated to Division Two in 23^rd position. Coventry finished the season a disappointing 11^th and missed out on a Premiership return.

Teams on 25/9/01:

Barnsley: Marriott, Regan, Barnard, Morgan, Barker, Parkin (Donovan 63), Ward (Tinkler 69), Neil, Gorre, Jones (Fallon 61), Dyer.

Subs: Ghent Sheron.

Coventry City: Hedman, Nilsson, Edworthy, Safri, Breen, Shaw, Thompson (Delorge 71), Carsley, Hughes, Bothroyd (Martinez 46), Chippo (O'Neill 78).

Subs: Goram, Davenport.

Onto 2006-2007 then and Coventry who just missed out on a play-off place last term have made a great start at the Ricoh Arena winning 4 drawing 1 and losing just 1 but their away form is as disastrous as Barnsley. Both sides have won 2 and lost 5 on the road.

Coventry's home form though see them sat in 10^th place with 19 points from their 13 games, 3 points off the play-offs. Although they have that disastrous away form, the two victories they did pick up on the road were against our fellow strugglers Hull City and Southend which proves that they can dispatch of the struggling teams in this league.

In their last game Coventry triumphed 2-1 at home to fellow promoted Colchester United but lost 1-0 at Wolves in their previous away game.

With victory today Barnsley could realistically move up to 19^th place whilst Coventry could move to 6^th.

Last 6 Barnsley v Coventry results:

23/2/02 Coventry City 4 - 0 Barnsley (Division One)

25/9/01 Barnsley 1 - 1 Coventry City (Division One)

21/2/98 Coventry City 1 - 0 Barnsley (Premiership)

20/10/97 Barnsley 2 - 0 Coventry City (Premiership)

28/12/63 Coventry City 3 - 1 Barnsley (Third Division)

26/12/63 Barnsley 1 - 1 Coventry City (Third Division)

Overall:

Barnsley Wins: 14

Coventry Wins: 17

Draws: 11

Barnsley Goals: 58

Coventry Goals: 66

Records:

Highest Aggregate 8 Barnsley 6 - 2 Coventry City 1922/1923

Highest Barnsley score: 6 Barnsley 6 - 2 Coventry City 1922/1923

Highest Coventry City score: 5 Coventry City 5 - 2 Barnsley 1960/1961

Last 6 2006-2007 Results:

Barnsley:

21/10/06 Sunderland 2-0 Barnsley (Championship)

17/10/06 Barnsley 2-2 Plymouth Argyle (Championship)

14/10/06 Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Barnsley (Championship)

30/9/06 Barnsley 1-2 Luton (Championship)

22/9/06 Preston 1-0 Barnsley (Championship)

19/9/06 Barnsley 1-2 MK Dons (League Cup)

W:0 D:1 L:5 F:5 A:11 GD:-6 Points: 1

Coventry:

23/10/06 Coventry 2-1 Colchester (Championship)

17/10/06 Wolves 1-0 Coventry (Championship)

13/10/06 Southend 2-3 Coventry (Championship)

30/9/06 Coventry 0-1 Plymouth (Championship)

23/9/06 Crystal Palace 1-0 Coventry (Championship)

16/9/06 Coventry 1-0 Leeds (Championship)

W:3 D:0 L:3 F:6 A:6 GD:0 Points: 9

Barnsley currently lie 21st in the Coca-Cola Championship with 12 points from 13 games, 7 points below Coventry who lie 10^th with 19 points from 13 games.

WHO ARE YA COVENTRY:

Ground Ricoh Arena

Coventry Capacity 32,500

Geoffrey Robinson

Manager Micky Adams

League The Championship

2005-06 Championship, 8th

Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip. They currently play in the Coca-Cola Championship. They are currently managed by Micky Adams who was appointed on January 21, 2005 following the departure of Peter Reid.

Between 1967 and 2001, they were continuously members of the top division although they never finished higher than sixth. Their only major trophy came in 1987 when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 to win the FA Cup in what is still regarded as one of the best Cup finals of all time. During the 2006 Liverpool vs West Ham United Cup Final the commentator mentioned that it was as nearly as good as the 1987 Cup Final.

Famous players to have worn a Sky Blue shirt include Steve Ogrizovic, Tommy Hutchison, George Curtis, George Hudson, Willie Humphries, Ian Gibson, Ray Pointer, Colin Stein, Gerry Francis, Bill Glazier, Reg Matthews, Dave Clements, Brian Kilcline, Dion Dublin, Gary McAllister, David Speedie, Robbie Keane, Dennis Wise, Craig Bellamy, and Peter Ndlovu.

Famous managers to have taken charge of a Coventry side include Ron Atkinson, Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister, Peter Reid, Phil Neal, Bobby Gould, Terry Butcher, John Sillett (manager of the 1987 F.A Cup winning side), Jimmy Hill and Jesse Carver.

From 1899 to 2005, Coventry City played at Highfield Road. During the 1980s it became the first all-seater stadium in English football, but by the end of the following decade the club's directors decided it was time to build a bigger stadium and chose on a site in the Foleshill area of the city. Their new home - The Ricoh Arena - was opened in August 2005.

Taken from www.wikipedia.org